Traumatic brain injury and bladder function: From acute to chronic phase. A literature review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can induce a coma and directly affect the pathways that help control lower urinary tract (LUT) function. This paper reviews the clinical and urodynamic data from the literature on LUT function after TBI in the acute, rehabilitation and chronic phases. The number of papers available on LUT function after TBI is very limited, but the studies have been well conducted, and the sample size is acceptable. The interpretation of reported data is complex due to heterogeneity in the items studied and the level of detail. During the early phase, indwelling catheters are needed for critical care, but spontaneous voiding is possible in most patients as soon as the catheter can be removed. The ability to void is primarily independent of the Glasgow Coma Scale value. During rehabilitation, spontaneous voiding is observed in the majority, but re-learning of voluntary control may be needed. In the follow-up, complete recovery of continence and voiding is possible, but overactive bladder and other LUT symptoms (LUTS) have been described. The data show that afferent and sensory functions related to the LUT remain active in many TBI patients, making long-term use of indwelling catheters unnecessary. There are no studies that follow the evolution in the same patient over a long period. Urodynamic studies show that LUT function varies after TBI and that variables such as age, previous dysuria, diabetes and local anatomic pathologies can also influence the outcome. Personalized management after an evaluation is therefore needed in TBI patients

Traumatic brain injury and bladder function: From acute to chronic phase. A literature review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can induce a coma and directly affect the pathways that help control lower urinary tract (LUT) function. This paper reviews the clinical and urodynamic data from the literature on LUT function after TBI in the acute, rehabilitation and chronic phases. The number of papers available on LUT function after TBI is very limited, but the studies have been well conducted, and the sample size is acceptable. The interpretation of reported data is complex due to heterogeneity in the items studied and the level of detail. During the early phase, indwelling catheters are needed for critical care, but spontaneous voiding is possible in most patients as soon as the catheter can be removed. The ability to void is primarily independent of the Glasgow Coma Scale value. During rehabilitation, spontaneous voiding is observed in the majority, but re-learning of voluntary control may be needed. In the follow-up, complete recovery of continence and voiding is possible, but overactive bladder and other LUT symptoms (LUTS) have been described. The data show that afferent and sensory functions related to the LUT remain active in many TBI patients, making long-term use of indwelling catheters unnecessary. There are no studies that follow the evolution in the same patient over a long period. Urodynamic studies show that LUT function varies after TBI and that variables such as age, previous dysuria, diabetes and local anatomic pathologies can also influence the outcome. Personalized management after an evaluation is therefore needed in TBI patients

Combining different evaluations of sensation to assess the afferent innervation of the lower urinary tract after SCI

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To study a combination of three evaluations of sensation in the lower urinary tract (LUT) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: University Antwerp Belgium, Unicenter study. METHODS: Evaluation of perineal sensation with light digital touch, reporting of filling sensation during a standardised urodynamic investigation and determination of the electrical perception threshold (EPT) were evaluated in patients with SCI. RESULTS: 150 individuals were included: 97 men and 53 women, mean age 46 ± 17 years. Patients had different levels and completeness of SCI, and different techniques for bladder emptying. Seventy-four patients (49%) reported sensation to touch in the perineal area. Sensation of bladder filling was reported in different patterns by 81 patients (54%). EPT was determined in 69 patients of which 50 (72%) reported sensation in different patterns. The outcome of absence/presence of sensation between the three tests differed greatly: with perineal sensation absent 53% had filling sensation (p = 0.040) and 58% positive EPT (p = 0.009). With filling sensation absent 59% had EPT sensation (not significant). Perineal sensation was strongly associated with level and completeness of SCI, while a significant association existed for filling sensations FSF, FDV, SDV and EPT in the distal urethra. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that different evaluations of sensation in the LUT of individuals with SCI complement each other. and we therefore propose combined use in the urological evaluation of patients with SCI to allow a more complete picture of the LUT sensations